As the most populated state in the US, California was once the biggest sweepstakes market nationwide. However, in 2025, new legislation – supported by many of the California tribes – was signed off by Governor Gavin Newsom.
California Sweepstakes Casinos
This made it unlawful for sweeps casinos to operate, forcing brands to withdraw by the start of 2026. Fortunately, skill gaming sites such as MaxDuel and pure social casinos are not affected by the new law and still exist.
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List of Legal Online Casinos in California (Social)
1
Up to Free $20.00
- 21 Excellent P2P games
- SoloPlay also available
- Fledging Discord community
3
Free 300,000 Gold Coins
- iOS & Android apps
- Operated by Hard Rock Games
- Multiplayer table games
4
500 Port Points and 2 Free Access Tokens
- Available in all States
- 24/7 bingo games
- Supports a variety of payment methods
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in California?
No, they are not. That’s as of January 1, 2026.
California is one of several states where tribal casinos control land-based gambling, while online casino-style gaming is effectively illegal. CA is also one of six states that voted to definitively ban sweepstakes casinos in 2025 with new legislation.
Since online sweeps casinos emerged in 2012, they have operated in a gray area of the law with a dual-currency system, avoiding the usual restrictions of online, real money gambling.
However, in June 2025, an existing bill in the CA legislature titled AB 831 was used as a vehicle for an anti-sweepstakes proposal via a controversial ‘gut and amend’ procedure.
By the midpoint of the year, the window for new bills had effectively closed, but Assemblymember Avelino Valencia replaced the wording of a pre-existing bill with text that sought to ban Sweeps Coin play and real cash redemptions. Sweeps operators and their supply chain were to be made unlawful, with fines and prison time given as deterrents.
AB 831 had the strong support of many of the Californian tribes through the influential California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), as well as the broader commercial gambling lobby. Both groups saw sweepstakes casinos as competitors, eating into their market share.
Some smaller, more isolated tribes from CA dissented, claiming that the bill would limit their opportunities to earn via the sweepstakes format. Still, AB 831 sailed through the Senate and Assembly with hardly any opposition.
The proposal reached Governor Newsom’s desk in September and was signed off in October, taking effect on January 1 2026. It forced all sweeps operators to withdraw Sweeps Coin play from the state. Some brands decided to remain, offering only Gold Coin/fun play, while most left completely.
California Sweepstakes Casino Timeline
June 2023
Former Fliff player Bishoy Nessim takes Fliff to court and seeks $7 million in damages
After claimed losses of $7,000, Bishoy Nessim took the social sportsbook to court, looking for $7 million in damages based on the claim that Fliff was not really free-to-play.
January 2024
Judge Sykes rules that Nessim and Fliff must head to arbitration
Judge Sunshine Sykes rules that the case must be settled by arbitration due to the player having waived his rights to take legal action when he agreed to Fliff’s terms & conditions.
February 2025
Bill AB831 is introduced to change certain tribal-state gaming compact procedures
Assembly Member Ramos introduces Bill AB831. Seemingly written with the intent of changing specific tribal-state procedures, Bill AB831 initially has nothing to do with sweepstakes casinos and as such, progresses with minimal interference.
April 2025
Stake.us faces lawsuit launched by Dennis Boyle
Dennis Boyle sues sweepstakes casino Stake.us on the basis of running an “illegal gambling website.“
May 2025
Ryan Seacrest sued in California for promoting sweepstakes casinos
California resident Aubrey Carillo files a lawsuit against American Idol host Ryan Seacrest — accusing him of helping to contribute to an alleged rise in gambling addiction by way of his endorsement and sponsorship deal with Chumba Casino.
May 2025
Judge sends Dennis Boyle’s lawsuit against Stake.us to arbitration
Judge James Selna sends Dennis Boyle’s Stake.us lawsuit to arbitration due to the player having agreed to do so when he signed up to the site and accepted its terms & conditions.
June 2025
After passing legal hurdles, bill AB831 is gutted and amended to target sweepstakes casinos
More than four months after being introduced, bill AB831 is entirely rewritten — with the new bill focused on attacking sweepstakes casinos. Critics, including SweepsKings, argue that bill AB831’s rewrite has allowed it to unfairly bypass the normal legislative procedure for bills.
July 2025
New AB831 bill passes Public Safety Committee vote and gains approval from Senate Public Safety Committee
The new bill AB831 passes the Public Safety Committee vote. And while heavily debated, it also gains approval from the Senate Public Safety Committee and moves on to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
July 2025
B2 preemptively withdraws sweepstakes casinos from California
B2Services OÜ begins withdrawing its sweepstakes casino brands from California due to the progress of the AB831 bill. They are barely the only ones.
August 2025
AB831 is placed into suspense file
VGW and KEDA join forces to back sweepstakes casinos in California. With little support during the latest hearing, AB831 is placed into suspense file.
September 2025
AB831 progresses out of suspense file
Despite opposition from the sweepstakes industry and several tribes, AB831 has now been approved for a full floor vote.
September 2025
LA City Attorney files lawsuit against Stake.us and providers
The lawsuit implicates the sweepstakes casino and the whole supply chain, including popular studios Pragmatic Play, Evolution, and Hacksaw Gaming. Shortly after, Pragmatic Play announced its exit from the sweepstakes market.
September 2025
AB831 completes the Assembly Floor vote on the final day of Cali's legislative session
The bill passed with unanimous support and now awaits Governor Newsom's signature or veto. If it is approved, all sweepstakes casinos are expected to exit the Golden State.
October 2025
Governor Newsom signs AB831 into law
The ban on sweepstakes casinos in California is expected to take effect on January 1 2026. Most operators are expected to exit the state by then.
November 2025
Major brands announce exit plans from Cali
Popular social casino groups like RealPlay, B-Two, A1 Development, and standalone brands like Stake.us and Legendz, have emailed players about their exit plans from California. Take note of the dates to redeem your Sweeps Coins in time.
California Sweepstakes Gaming Archive
Other Gaming Options for Californian Players
Gaming options aren’t limited to social casinos in California, even if they are the most practical way to play right now.
Brick-and-mortar casinos, while mostly illegal in the Golden State, are operational. There are a handful of cardrooms (admittedly, no new ones have sprung up since 1995) and tribal California casinos you can head to. Over 60 CA tribal casinos have emerged since tribal-California state gaming compacts were signed. The most notable of these include the Cahuilla Casino, the Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Diamond Mountain, and Colusa Casino, with the latter supporting over 1,200 slot machines and popular table games, as well as bingo. It’s no wonder that California tribes have protested sweepstakes casinos, claiming that they were questioning their soveireignity over gambling in the Golden State.
Online casinos (and sports betting sites) are not currently legal in the Golden State. However, with numerous US states setting up their own regulated industries, we wouldn’t be surprised if the California Gambling Control Commission opened its doors to state-licensed and regulated California casinos soon.
Author: Jon Ridehalgh
Updated:
Jon has been playing slots for 20+ years, he’s seen all of the trends from classic fruit machines to Megaways to tumbling reels to Hold & Win. Jon has spent extensive time working in the slot industry and uses his expert knowledge to produce engaging and highly informative reviews. He is also a sweepstakes casino bonus guru, and if you follow his tips, you’ll have more free Sweeps Coins than you’ll know what to do with!
Jon has been playing slots for 20+ years, he’s seen all of the trends from classic fruit machines to Megaways to tumbling reels to Hold & Win. Jon has spent extensive time working in the slot industry and uses his expert knowledge to produce engaging and highly informative reviews. He is also a sweepstakes casino bonus guru, and if you follow his tips, you’ll have more free Sweeps Coins than you’ll know what to do with!
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